The Comatose Patient

Eelco F. M. Wijdicks, M.D., PhD, FACP

If you are asked to see a patient brought comatose into the emergency room, found on the ward or who fails to awaken in the ICU, it will be in this book. The book is practical and a necessary guide for any physician suddenly confronted with the care of a comatose patient. The unique features of this book are a new practical approach to the diagnosis and management of the comatose patient, a new approach to the neurologic examination of the Comatose patient, Detailed discussion on the correlation between clinical findings associated with brainstem shift and neuroimaging, explanation of a new coma scale the "FOUR Score" and 75 clinical vignettes covering all causes of coma.

The Comatose Patient

Eelco F. M. Wijdicks, M.D., PhD, FACP

Description

The Comatose Patient is a single authored entirely new work written by a practicing critical care neurologist. It includes a critical historical overview of the concepts of consciousness and unconsciousness, principles of neurologic examination of the comatose patients including instruction of a new coma scale, the 'FOUR Score', a new practical multistep approach to the diagnosis of the comatose patient, extensive coverage of interpretation of neuroimaging and its role in daily practice and decision making, management in the emergency room and ICU and long-term supportive care and approach to communication with family members and end-of-life decision. It also discusses landmark legal cases and ethical problems and a chapter on the public perception of coma. The
book is lavishly illustrated with 200 illustrations throughout the book.

Unprecedented, this book includes 75 comprehensive case vignettes covering the entire spectrum of causes leading to coma. In each case a specific cause is presented. Every example is fully discussed and explained with an emphasis on the mechanism of coma in that particular case and followed by a section on management and expected outcome.

A companion website www.oup.com/us/thecomatosepatient (http://www.oup.com/us/thecomatosepatient) presents 5 narrated chapters, including 40 patient examples showing the instructions of the FOUR score Coma Scale, common neurological findings in coma, breathing patterns in coma, different types of prolonged comatose states including a persistent
vegetative state and a minimally conscious state. Using 3D animation, the videos includes a comprehensive description of the determination of Brain Death and how to safely do the apnea test. There is an emphasis on pitfalls and common concerns. The companion website also includes a PDF of the FOUR Score Instruction Guide for easy reference.

The Comatose Patient

Eelco F. M. Wijdicks, M.D., PhD, FACP

Reviews and Awards

"...provides a comprehensive and contemporary look at the understanding and management of the comatose patient...In contrast to several texts on this topic that focus mainly on pathophysiology and diagnosis, this book is more comprehensive and relevant to the clinician at the bedside because it provides not only pathophysiologic and diagnostic approaches but also detailed management options for common and uncommon etiologies of coma."--Mayo Clinic Proceedings

"...an important and valuable book..."--Journal of Neuroscience Nursing

"The book has an attractive uniformity of style and organization...Concepts are well presented, and the illustrations, many of which are in color, are well presented and clear."--New England Journal of Medicine

"In The Comatose Patient Dr. Wijdicks does an excellent job in bringing new concepts to the longstanding knowledge base of this patient population... The Comatose Patient is an excellent reference for the many different types of coma one encounters, even esoteric ones, and belongs in every intensive care unit that cares for patients with neurologic disease."--Anesthesiology

"...a tour de force..."--Neurology

"...an exceptionally helpful text...The book's format is unique, modern, and highly effective....Clinicians can easily go from the bedside to the text to look at a specific clinical vignette that will help them approach the patient they are caring for with greater expertise and will help them to be more thorough in their evaluation. This book is a must..."--Critical Care Medicine

Received the Honorable Mention award in the Physician's Category of the American Medical Writers Association book awards for 2008!